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Explore the rainforest without leaving the UK. The Living Rainforest is home to 700 species of plants and animals. Watch birds, butterflies, lizards and a two-toed sloth roam free in our tropical glasshouses.... Read more

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Each year, The Living Rainforest's acclaimed education programme welcomes over 25,000 school children. Four tours are available, supporting key subjects in the Curriculum.... Read more

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The Living Rainforest stands at the former site of one of Europe's leading orchid nurseries. In 1993, it re-opened as a rainforest visitor centre. Today, with registered educational charity status, we welcome over 90,000 visitors a year.... Read more

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News & Media

Interact with the rainforest online

The Living Rainforest brings Indonesia to Berkshire

The Living Rainforest is hosting an expert on Indonesian conservation efforts this Bank Holiday Monday.

Julia Aglionby, who has spent two years working in the Indonesian National Park of Danau Sentarum, will be giving three half hour-long talks on Monday, 1 May and also showing footage of the Indonesian rainforest. Aglionby will discuss her experiences with endangered orang-utans, south-east Asian culture, and the threats posed by oil palm plantations, illegal logging and forest fires.

Visitors will have an opportunity to ask questions about the Indonesian rainforest and children will be able to take part in an Indonesian treasure trail throughout the day.

The Living Rainforest, which is affiliated with a number of rainforest conservation projects across the globe, is helping Aglionby raise money to continue to fund a local charity carrying out conservation projects in the Park. There is no effective protection by the Indonesian Government and local communities are reliant on donations from overseas to protect their forest.

“Our focus on human impact is not confined to what individuals can do in the UK,” said Karl Hansen, director of The Living Rainforest. “Julia has amazing hands-on experience of important conservation efforts in Indonesia and it’s great to be able to share this with our visitors.”

“Increasing awareness of conservation activity in Danau Sentarum is key to our fundraising effort,” said Julia Aglionby. “I hope that visiting parents and children will be inspired to learn more about Indonesian life and to know that even small contributions can have an enormous positive impact.”

Talks on Danau Sentarum will run between 11.00am and 3.00pm, on Monday, 1 May. Other activities will be running over the weekend, including tropical art workshops from 10.00am until 4.00pm on Sunday, 30 April and Monday, 1 May. Local artist Charlotte Hardy will lead children in exploring the world of plants and animals and creating their own piece of art to take home.